Caitlin swooped into Montana for a few days to catch that solar eclipse thing with me. Butte > Norris > Polaris > Darby.

We battled a bit of traffic, found some random dirt road, climbed up to a ridge (which we’d later find out was DoE property), and waited… The temperature dropped, the wind picked up, and we watched a sunset as the sun hovered high in the sky.

And then, right as the sky became completely dark, I asked her to marry me. She said yes. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

I carried the ring for 2000 miles. Always packing it first thing into my pack in the mornings. We drank a celebratory beer as the moon was still partially eclipsing the sun, feeling at peace, and excited. Total eclipse of the heart stuck in our heads as the radio DJs couldn’t stop talking about it.

Celebratory dinner, Montana style.

We are so happy 🙂

Lima, ID

Gettin ready to hitch back to the trail.

The Idaho/Montana border kinda looks like home… lots of rolling hills.  I’m still getting hit by afternoon thunderstorms pretty consistently.

That feeling when you didn’t realize you got double stuf, then you open your food bag and you got double stuf.

This is the most people I ever camped with on the CDT. I would say 80-90% of my nights are solo. This is a pretty rare sight on the trail.

Cloud cover in the morning makes for nice pictures, but I also know it means we’re in for some heavy storms later in the day.

I walk along the ridges watching the clouds build, making sure my timing around 2-4 pm gets me a bit lower.

Soon enough around 2-3 pm the hail and thunder starts.

I hang out under some trees for a bit to let it pass. The next 6 miles are pretty exposed.

Leadore, ID.

You need to get the deep fried french toast in Leadore. Make sure you are on the waitress’ good side.

Hitching back up to the pass, had a huge crew heading out of Leadore.

And Montana is on fire…

Up next, Caitlin visits!

andrew batjiaka cdt resupply